Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre

12229 Bristow Rd.

Bristow VA 20136

703-365-7895

House Tours: $5 for adults, free for children under six, $3 for active military, $3 per person for groups of 10 or more and $2 per student for student programs (call for reservations) and accompanying adults are free.

Pricing varies for special programs, please see calendar for details.

Donations to support historic preservation efforts in the County are gratefully accepted.

The Town of Brentsville was established on 50 acres in 1820 to become the County seat of Prince William County. By 1820, many residents had moved farther west for better farm land and the old county seat of Dumfries was too far east for the western residents to travel conveniently. The new town of Brentsville was centrally located in Prince William County along the major east/west road that led from the port of Dumfries to the Shenandoah Valley. In 1893, the county seat moved to Manassas and Brentsville became a rural community, which allowed it to retain much of its 19th century character.

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre interprets the history of Brentsville and Prince William County through three centuries. Currently, the Courthouse, Union Church and Haislip/Hall farmhouse have been restored.

The Brentsville site consists of 28 acres with five historic buildings and various archaeological sites. Historic buildings and features include:

The site also includes a mile long nature trail highlighting the area’s natural resources.

Work is underway for the restoration on the Jail and development of a Visitor Center and museum. Once completed, the site will give visitors a unique look into the history of not just Prince William County, but Northern Virginia.

The grounds are open to the public from sunrise to sunset every day. A self guided interpretative trail and a picnic area are available. Tours are offered Thursday through Monday from May 1 through October 31 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. or by appointment. The grounds and Union Church are available for rental.

Brenstville Joins Other House Museums

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre is a participating member of the Historic House Museum Consortium of Metropolitan Washington D.C. Please visit www.dchousemuseums.org to learn about more than 40 historic house museums in the Washington DC area including Mount Vernon Riversdale the White House and many more in Virginia Maryland and Washington DC!

Programs for School and Youth Groups

Educators and Youth Group Leaders are invited to Brentsville for special Programs for Students and youth groups. We offer a variety of activities to help youth gain an appreciation of days gone by and an understanding of the lives of Prince William residents in the past.

2004 Prince William County Historic Preservation Division assumes management of site

2006 Courthouse and Union Church restored

2008 Haislip/Hall house restored

2010 Jail stabilization begins

Brentsville Civil War History

Brentsville was the Prince William County seat during the Civil War. In response to John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry in 1859, the Prince William Cavalry (Co. A Virginia Cavalry) was formed here on the courthouse lawn in January 1860. The ladies of Brentsville made a flag and presented it to the company. Other Confederate units from Prince William County such as Ewell Guards (Co. A. 49th Virginia Infantry) were organized and drilled here.

Like many Virginian towns, Brentsville suffered heavily at the hands of both armies. Confederate General Eppa Hunton, a Brentsville resident and lawyer, had his house and other buildings destroyed. The Hampton Legion, among other units, was posted here on scouting missions. Several homes and churches served as hospitals. The county clerk’s office was torn down and its bricks used for camp chimneys. Part of the ca. 1822 courthouse roof was torn off and many county records were either destroyed or taken by soldiers as souvenirs. Capt. Andrew McHenry of the 13th Pennsylvania Infantry wrote of Brentsville in 1864 “the houses generally are in ruin.”

The Battle of Bristoe Station fought three miles west on Oct. 14 1863 brought combat to Brentsville’s doorstep. During the battle, Federal General John Buford’s cavalry was posted here to protect the Federal supply train. Confederate partisan units operate in Brentsville until the end of the war.

For more information contact:

From Interstate 95: Take Rt. 234 North (Exit 152B); travel seven and a half miles and make a left onto Independent Hill Drive. Then make your immediate right onto Bristow Rd. Brentsville is five miles on the right.

From Interstate 66: Take Rt. 234 South (Exit 44); travel 4.5 miles and turn right onto Rt. 28 south (Nokesville Rd.). Travel 1.5 miles and make a left onto Rt. 619 (Bristow Rd.); Brentsville is four miles on the left.

For more information on historic resources in the Prince William County area click here.